Love is…

-Author's Note: Okay, I'm back!! Thanks so much for all of the reviews—they really are what keep me writing…I read all of the wonderful things you guys say and I get the motivation to go write, so I finished chapter 6, FINALLY. I really hope this is worth the wait of what, a month? A month and a half? I don't want to make any promises that I can't keep, but I am really going to try hard and get the chapters that follow up here on weekly intervals, but once again…no promises. Anyway—on with the story (leave a review when you're done…)!

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Ross's hands shook as he fumbled with his tie, trying with all of his might to get it perfect, but not really succeeding. His heart was beating so fast in his chest that he was just waiting for it to explode inside him. But to be honest, he would rather have that happen than go through with the dinner date he was getting ready for. Normally he wouldn't be so nervous and petrified, but this was oh-so-different from all of his other dates with Rachel. Yes – this one…was the one where he met Rachel's dad; and most importantly, the one where Rachel's dad met him.

Now, of course, he had already "met" Rachel's father. What with all of the holidays the two families spent together throughout his childhood and most of his teenage years. But this was different – this time he was not to be introduced as Ross Gellar, Monica's geeky older brother and son of Jack and Judy; but as Ross Gellar, boyfriend of Rachel Green.

As much as he tried to shake it, Ross couldn't get rid of the burdening feeling that Rachel's father was going to hate him. He didn't know why, but he knew how Dr. Green operated, and he knew that Dr. Green would want nothing but the best for his little princess. Ross was just afraid that in the eyes of Dr. Green, he would be anything but the best, no matter what he did to prove otherwise.

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During his walk to Monica and Rachel's apartment, Ross couldn't get his mind off of his fears. He hoped and prayed that seeing Rachel would help him. The sight of her smile had banished his worries and negative thoughts before, why not this time too?

Ross absent-mindedly walked up the stairs to apartment and entered. He had gotten the hang of that, finally. In the first two weeks that he had been back in New York, he'd driven the gang nuts because he always knocked when he came by, instead of just coming right in. So, after countless reminders from Rachel and the guys, it finally stuck.

Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey were sitting around the table in the kitchen when Ross entered. All four of them greeted him, but he waved them off and stared at the floor as he walked into the living room.

"Rachel's still in her room getting ready, by the way…" Monica said sarcastically, taking notice of his nervousness. Ross looked at her and nodded, as if not knowing what she was talking about before focusing his attention at the floor again, still pacing back and forth in front of the television.

Ross's mind was going frantic. 'Don't speak unless spoken to.' 'Don't laugh too hard at his jokes…' He was making more mental notes than his brain could handle, trying to get rid of the incessant fears of screwing up. Tonight was going to be hell and he was going to be in the company of Satan. Fun.

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Rachel stood in the doorway staring at Ross. He was still pacing back and forth, and she could see fear staining his face and eyes as he gazed at the floor, walking this way and that; not even noticing her presence. She adjusted herself, resting her weight on her left side as she tilted her head, an expectant smile on her face; a smile that showed her trying not to laugh. She found it so sweet that he was as terrified as he was, it made her feel so special.

She looked away from Ross and over to the gang who were still in the kitchen. They were all looking at her, smiles spread across their faces as they too tried to conceal laughter, not that Ross would've been aware of it.

Rachel put her finger to her lips as a sign for them to be quiet as Ross started pacing away from her. The gang nodded and Rachel walked over and stood in Ross's path with her hands behind her back, an innocent smile on her face. Ross turned around and took a couple of steps before he walked right into Rachel. "Oh, Jesus!" he said, shocked that he'd walked into someone. Noticing it was Rachel, "I'm so sorry Rach, are you okay?"

Rachel smiled and held both of his hands. She pulled him closer and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. "Don't worry, I'm fine…" Ross nodded. The fear had gone away for a second, but had soon returned at the thought that they would be leaving in just a couple of minutes for the dinner from hell…His eyes got all distant and he looked at the floor once again, "Ross, honey…what's wrong?"

Rachel knew full well what was wrong; she just…wanted to act as if she didn't think there was anything to worry about. But to be completely truthful, she was a little scared of dinner tonight too. Not because she thought her father wouldn't like Ross, she was scared of how critical her father would be. You see, with her father, he'd always 'liked' the men she dated; he just didn't like them for her. And in the past, whatever he said went. If he didn't think someone was good enough for her, that was it – she was never allowed to date them again. But not this time; no. She wasn't going to let her father get in the way of her and Ross – she loved him too much.

"Nothing Rach…it's just – I'm so scared of screwing up at dinner tonight…It's inevitable! I'm going to shake his hand too long, I'm gonna….I'm gonna –" Ross's ranting was cut short when Rachel put a finger to his lips. Ross looked down and into Rachel's eyes, releasing a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

Rachel held Ross's head in both of her hands and said to him slowly, to make sure he understood, "Ross, listen to me." He nodded his head in her hands. "You are going to be fine. You are not going to screw this up, okay? You're going to be yourself and he's going to love you…Maybe not as much as I do, but we'll take what we can get." Ross chuckled, amazed at how her words and the sound of her voice could calm his nerves as easily as they could.

You are my everything
Nothing your love won't bring
My life is yours alone
The only love I've ever known
Your spirit pulls me through
When nothing else will do
Every night I pray
On bended knee
That you will always be
My everything

Softly he whispered, "Okay. Thank you. I love you so much." Rachel smiled and kissed his nose.

After exchanging goodbyes and good lucks with the gang, Ross and Rachel left the apartment, hand in hand.

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They decided to walk to the restaurant since it was so close. They didn't talk; they just held hands and enjoyed the scenery.

Rachel could tell that Ross was still terrified though, and she at least wanted to try again to make him feel better.

"Ross, please relax! You have nothing to worry about!" Rachel said desperately.

Ross dropped her hand and took a step back from her, "But I do, Rachel! I have a lot to worry about! When we get in there, he's gonna judge and critique everything I do – If I hold my utensils correctly; if I pull out your chair for you." Rachel opened her mouth to say something but Ross cut her off. "No! Listen, Rach. For you, this is just a nice evening with your father to introduce him to the guy you've been dating for the past 3 months. But for me, it's completely different. I want to make a good impression so he doesn't decide at the end of this dinner that I'm not good enough for his little girl." Rachel looked down, taking a deep breath and trying to think of something to say to that, because it was true. Everything was different for him. He was going to be held under the microscope and she was going to be showered with love.

Ross walked over to a bench that was nearby and sat down, holding his head in his hands. He took a few deep breaths and felt Rachel sit next to him and rub his back softly. "I'm sorry, Rach. I shouldn't have yelled."

Rachel massaged the back of his neck. "No, Ross. Don't be sorry. You're right. It is different for you and I should've realized that sooner." Rachel reached for his hand and pulled him so he was facing her. "But Ross, you need to know this – we could go in there, and my father could hate you. He could hate you so much that he forbids me from seeing you again –"

"Thanks, that helps…"

"- No, listen. He could forbid me from seeing you ever again but I won't listen to him, and do you know why?" Ross shook his head. "It's because I love you too much to let my jackass father take you away from me, okay? I love you too much to care what he thinks about you because I know we're going to be together forever and there isn't a damn thing he can do to change that. I'm not going to let my father deny me my one true love – the man that makes me happier than I ever thought I could be. That's why."

"Wow Rach. I love you too, so much."

Rachel smiled and lightly stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. "I know you do."

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Much to Ross's surprise, dinner actually went well. In fact, he and Dr. Green had a lot in common, and as terrifying as that may sound, it really wasn't too bad. I mean, they weren't similar as far as mannerisms were concerned, but they were able to agree on a lot of stuff – sports, politics, technology, Rachel…

Ross ended up walking out of the restaurant after dinner feeling really refreshed, and so optimistic that it was a little scary to Rachel. One particular time, Ross walked up to a parking meter and studied it so carefully that Rachel walked over and asked him if he was okay. And the truth was, he was even better than okay – he had the most beautiful woman in the world to wake up to every morning, a woman who would never know how weak in the knees he got whenever she walked into a room; a woman who would never know how much he thanked God that he was alive and that she was with him.

Now all my hopes and all my dreams
are suddenly reality
you've opened up my heart to feel
a kind of love that's truly real
a guiding light that'll never fade
there's not a thing in life that I would ever trade
for the love you give it won't let go
I hope you'll always know

You are my everything

She would never know the intense power that she had over him and how her smile could brighten even the darkest of days; or how her eyes had a sparkle that no diamond would ever compare to. There were so many things that she did to him, so many things feelings that only she could bring out in him and she was oblivious to it all…

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After dinner with her father, Rachel couldn't have been more ecstatic. Her father seemed to really like Ross, and she was so thankful for that. She was so happy that she'd finally met a man that pleased her father, but even if Dr. Green hadn't like Ross it wouldn't have changed a thing.

She wouldn't love Ross any less if her father disapproved. If anything, she would love him even more, if that was possible…she loved him so much already.

But now that she thought about it, she came to the astonishing conclusion that she didn't really 'love' Ross. I bet you're thinking, 'How the hell is that a good thing?" But it was – it was a great thing – because she knew that the feelings she had for Ross were more than love. Love didn't even come close to how wrapped up in him she was, and it was something that she'd never be able to explain.

The way her heart jumps at the slightest touch of his skin on hers; the way that her breathing becomes erratic and uneven whenever he's near; the way that sometimes when she's at work and she sees his picture on her desk, she wants to be with him, kissing him and holding him so bad that she almost drops everything and runs 13 blocks to the museum to get to him. It never ceases to amaze her how he always knows what she's thinking. He always knows exactly how she's feeling and he always knows how to comfort her.

You're the breath of life in me
the only one that sets me free
and you have made my soul complete
for all time (for all time)

And through all of these revelations, Rachel realized that no one knows her better then Ross does – not Monica, not her father – and no one will ever love her like he does. And she wouldn't change that for anything.

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Ross and Rachel were walking back to her apartment. Ross had finally calmed down and was staring at Rachel, smiling at how perfect she was and how beautiful she looked. He hadn't noticed before just how wonderful her dress looked on her. It was amazing – a red, spaghetti strap, silk dress that accentuated all of her gorgeous curves…he was shocked at how every piece of clothing she donned seemed like it was made for her. It seemed as though everything she owned captured her beauty in some way he didn't even see possible; whether it brought out the beautiful blue colour of her eyes, or whether it matched the soft blonde of her velvety hair – every outfit made her so flawless, capitalizing on the beauty that she radiated naturally.

"You look gorgeous tonight. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before." Ross whispered. Rachel looked up into his eyes and smiled. She didn't say a word, but then again, she didn't have to. Their connection was just that real. She lightly rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand and looked back at the pavement, a smile still spread across her face. This was perfect.

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When they reached Rachel's apartment, they walked in to find everything dark – Monica had gone to bed. Ross hung Rachel's purse and his coat on the rack by the door as she slowly walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She looked up into his eyes and whispered, "I love you."

Ross didn't feel that saying "I love you too" would adequately capture just what he was feeling inside so instead, he leaned in and gave her the most incredible kiss she'd ever been a part of. This kiss seemed to last for nothing short of an eternity and it was so intense and passionate that when they broke, Ross was practically holding Rachel up and she was trying to catch her breath. "Wow…what was that for?"

"Everything. That was for everything you've taught me, everything you've given me. That's because I can't imagine my life without you and I hope I never have to. That is a thank you – for being you, and for loving me. You'll never know how much you mean to me. Never."

Rachel felt her eyes welling up. The sincerity in his voice was astounding. She whispered, "Oh God, Ross…I'm never ever letting you go. I love you so much." She leaned in and kissed him softly, resting her head on his shoulder when they broke. How it was possible to love someone as much as she loved she would never know, but she wouldn't trade that love for anything in the world…

Every night I pray
down on bended knee
that you will always be
my everything

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-Author's Note: Okay so that was Chapter 6. Let me know what you guys thought of it…was it good? I'm a little worried because it has been so long since the last main update, I hope I captured everything correctly. The song I used was "My Everything" by 98 Degrees. Please, pwetty pwease leave me reviews!